Madeline Smolarz (she/her) is a proudly gay woman living with invisible disabilities and chronic conditions as an uninvited settler on the traditional territories of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, Anishnaabeg, Huron-Wendat and Mississauga nations, near the current Kanyen’kehá:ka community of Kenhtè:ke in what is now known as Ontario.
She holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts with a Specialization in Classical Studies from the University of Ottawa and a Master of Museum Studies from the University of Toronto. Madeline is a previous President of the Canadian Museums Association and she founded the Emerging Museum Professionals Canada Collective, a national grassroots volunteer organization. After over 15 years studying, volunteering, and working at the dynamic intersections of the arts, culture, heritage, tourism, and financial sectors, Madeline is thrilled to offer her passion for advocating for social justice and 2SLGBTQIA+ rights; her ongoing commitment to the path of Reconciliation; her appreciation of intersectionality as informed by her personal and professional experiences; and her natural curiosity as a lifelong learner to the Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion.
Madeline appreciates time spent reading, volunteering in her community, horseback riding, practicing yoga, stitching, and language learning – she knows a smattering of Mohawk, Anishinaabemowin, Danish, Polish, and Latin, and she’s always looking to improve her French skills. Madeline lives with her wife and rescue dog, who together love swimming and paddling in the Great Lakes; hiking and biking on nearby trails; nurturing native plants in their garden; supporting local businesses; and making memories with loved ones.